The Matzah of Affliction, Amazon Workers, and a special Passover Haggadah
March 25, 2021 - This year, Passover will take place during a historic moment in the labor movement. Thousands of votes have already been cast by workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama seeking to bring the first union to an Amazon warehouse in the United States.
We've received an outpouring of requests on how to express solidarity with the Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama this Passover. Here's one way.
During the Passover Seders we will be holding at home and online this year, the JLC recommends the following as an addition to traditional and contemporary Seder observances, as you say a blessing over a piece of matzah:
Just as matzah symbolizes the hardship of slavery and the Jewish people's hasty transition to freedom; in the modern day, it also symbolizes the difficult working conditions and treatment of working women and men at AMAZON warehouses everywhere and their fight for change, dignity and respect.
If you'd be interested in a haggadah that focuses on labor history and labor issues, you can download a copy of the Jewish Labor Committee Passover Haggadah by clicking on the text in blue, or here: https://bit.ly/3tSxUJf
As Passover and Easter overlap this year, we wish our members and friends observing these holidays a sweet and meaningful Passover and a happy Easter.